Display and dispensing container



Feb. 19, 1957 PALM, JR

DISPLAY AND DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed July 13. 1953 United StatesPatent 1 2,781,918 DISPLAY AND DISPENSING CONTAINER Floyd R. Palm, Jr.,Rockford, 11]., assignor to National Lock Company, Rockford, lit, acorporation of Delaware Application July 13, 1953, Serial No. 367,673 2Claims. (Cl. 211-128) The present invention relates to a novel displayand dispensing means for displaying and dispensing packaged screws andother or similar merchandise.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a noveldispenser for displaying and dispensing merchandise, such as screws orthe like, and provided with multiple shelves or tiens for displayingsuch screws or the like that are made and sold according to size, typeor style and material. To facilitate selection by the prospectivepurchaser of the screws or merchandise desired, these screws or the likeare packaged in containers or boxes of the type disclosed 'in myco-pendin-g application Serial No. 367,665, filed July 13, 1953,consisting of a base and a cover enclosing or encompassing the base andformed of transparent material, making the contents of each package orcontainer fully visible so that the prospective purchaser may readilyselect the desired package or packages and thus save substantial timeand effort of both the purchaser and dealer. The cover is made slidableto secure access to the base for removal of the screws.

Another and important object of the present invention is the provisionof a novel display and dispensing device for displaying and dispensingpackaged screws or the like, said device being provided with multipleinclined shelves or tiers vertically spaced apart and each divided orseparated into .a plurality of spaced rows for retaining in each row aplurality of the containers or boxes of screws or the like, thedifferent rows on these shelves or tiers dividing the screws ormerchandise in accordance with the size, type or style and the materialof which the merchandise is made.

For example, screws in addition to being made in numerous sizes, are ofdilferent types or styles such-as those provided with a flat head, around head or an oval head, or they may be of brass, zinc plated orprovided with other surface coatings. Any desired number of screws ofthe same size, type and style are preferably packaged in each package orcontainer and the purchaser or customer may choose one or more of thesepackages or containers to satisfy his present or future needs. If eachpackage contains twelve or more screws, it will be evident that screwsof one-half inch in length will require a package or container ofsubstantially smaller size than screws of greater length. For thisreason, each shelf is divided into a plurality of rows of diiferent orvarying widths and each row is adapted to receive a plurality ofpackages of a particular size screw whereby the diiferent size screwsare separated to allow the prospective purchaser to readily make hischoice.

By providing the shelves or tiers at a downward inclination as disclosedand contemplated, removal of a package or box from the lower end of arow permits those packages thereabove to automatically move or slidedownwardly until it abuts a stop or another box in lower position fordisplay. Thus the dealer by merely viewing terial from the prospectivepurchaser.

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A further object is to provide a novel container for displaying anddispensing screws or the like merchandise from which the dealer may mosteffectively dispense the displayed merchandise.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent or are inherent inthe present novel invention and will be readily appreciated by referenceto the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the novel dispenser or display anddispensing container, and showing several of the displayed packages orboxes in position on the spaced shelves or tiers, it being understoodthatfor most effective display the rows are'intended to be filled withthe packaged screws. 1

Pi-g. 2 is a view in vertical cross section through the novel dispenser,the view being taken in a plane represented by the line 2-2 of Fig. 3and viewed in the direction of the arrows. j

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the novel dispenser.

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the present dispenser.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in horizontal cross section takenin a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and viewed in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section of thelower, forward end of the dispenser as shown in Fig. 2. v

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section of theupper, rear end of the dispenser as shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the detailed disclosure in the drawings and moreparticularly to the novel illustrative embodiment therein shown, thepresent invention comprehends a novel dispenser or container 10 fordisplaying and dispensing packaged merchandise, such as screws and thelike made and sold in various sizes, styles and types and packaged inseparate. boxes or containers 11 preferably in accordance with apredetermined size, style or type. For example, screws or the like aregenerally sold in quantities and of a particular size, type or style ofhead, such as flat, round or oval, or of a particular material, such asbrass, steel or zinc plated,;etc.

Generally screws or similar merchandise are carrie in stock by thedealer inlarge boxes or in bins from which he selects and counts thedesired number after he has determined the particular size, type orstyle and ma- Frequcntly such prospective purchaser is incapable ofaccurately describing and choosing the particular size, type or style ofscrew desired until the dealer brings forth various of the items forviewing by the customer. All of this is obviated by the presentinvention for the screws or similar articles in the various sizes,styles and types are all available on the present novel dispenser wherethey are most effectively displayed and from which the purchaser mayreadily select one or more packages, as desired.

The novel dispenser 10 has spaced side walls 12 an 13 to which areaffixed a plurality of vertically spaced and inclined shelves or tiers14, 14 14 and 14 by means ofrivets or other suitable fastening means.Each side wall is provided with a vertically extending inturned flange15 at the rear and a horizontally extending inturned flange 16 at thebase. Extending across the front of the dis penser beneath the forwardedge of the lower shelf 14, is an inclined wall 17 having an inturnedbase flange 18, inturned side flanges 19 and an inturned top flange 20,the side flanges 1? being riveted or otherwise secured to the exteriorof the side walls 12 and 13 and the base flange 18 secured to theflanges 16 at the base of the side walls 'tively narrow and is showndownwardly inclined in substantial conformity with the shelves 14, 14 14and 14, and at its forward edge 25 is turned or bent downwardly andinwardly whereby no sharp or protruding edges present themselves to thedealer or prospective customer.

Transverse supports or flanged members 26 substantially bridge the sidewalls 12 and 13 and each supports the upper end of one of the shelves14, 14, 14 and 14, and

transverse supports or V-shaped flanged members 27 substantially bridgethe side walls 12 and 13 and each supports the lower end of each of theshelves 14, 14 14 and 14.

Each of the supports 26 has its upper flange 28 (Fig. 7)

riveted or otherwise aflixed to the adjacent end of the shelves, and thelower end of the shelves is aflixed to a flange 29 (Fig. 6) on thesupports 27 by rivets or other attaching means. To rigidly support theseshelves 14,

14 14 and 14 to the side walls 12 and 13, each is provided with aninturned or downwardly turned flange 31 at the opposite edges thereofwhich are rigidly affixed to the interior of the side walls 12 and 13 byrivets or other securing means.

Each shelf is provided with longitudinally extending ribs 32 disposed inspaced relation with the adjacent ribs adapted to receive therebetween aplurality of the pack ages or boxes 11 containing a desired quantity ofscrews or other merchandise of a desired type or style'adapted to bepackaged and dispensed in this manner. Each box or package fitsconformably between the adjacent ribs 32 of a designated row andpreferably each package or box in a particular row contains the samesize and type or style, it being intended that the dispenser contain asuflicient number of shelves 14 and a sufficient number of rows 33 oneach shelf defined or formed by the upstanding ribs 31, as to provide arow for each size, style or type of screw or other merchandisedisplayed. However, where several sizes, styles or types of screws orother merchandise are not sold as frequently as others and sufficientroom is not available for these to occupy separate rows, and their boxesor containers fit conformably in a single row, they may be combined.

Preferably each row 33 is marked on the front or face of the flange 34of the lower supports 27 and on the rear of the flange 35 of the uppersupports 26 with size and number or style of screws contained in eachrow 33, the marking at the front to facilitate the prospective purchaserin choosing the desired screws and the marking at the back to facilitatethe dealer in replenishing the stock in any row 33.

The present novel dispenser may be placed on a counter, showcase orother support and is preferably provided with rubber grommets or feet 36for that purpose, or the dispenser may be supported, by or depend fromscrews, hooks or the like and for that reason the rear flange 24 isprovided with key-hole slots 37.

The space provided at 38 beneath the shelves 14, 14, 14 and 14 andaccessible from the rear of the dispenser 10, provides storage space foradditional boxes or packages, 11 when the dispenser is mounted orsupported upon a counter, showcase or the like.

The structure of the base or frame of the present novel dispenserincluding the inclined and offset shelves with their ribs or embossmentsdividing each of the shelves into a plurality of longitudinallyextending or parallel rows, is preferably formed of relatively lightweight sheet metal which when assembled is sufliciently rigid and hasthe inherent strength capable of withstanding relatively rough usage andabuse.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

1. In a dispenser for displaying and dispensing packaged merchandisesuch as screws and other merchandise, a metal frame for said dispenserhaving spaced side Walls, a relatively narrow and forwardly anddownwardly inclined top wall having 21 depending flange at each endjoined to a side wall and a depending flange at the rear thereof forsupporting said dispenser in elevated position and for connecting therear upper end of the side walls, a relatively narrow and downwardlyinclined front wall connecting the forward, lower end of the side walls,multiple continuous shelves mounted within the frame and bridging theside walls with these shelves disposed in spaced parallel relation andinclined downwardly and forwardly to facilitate sliding of the containedpackages to a lower position, the opposite ends of each shelf extendingto and joined to the side walls at the forward edge of said walls,longitudinally extending arcuate ribs forming integral divisions on eachshelf for separating these shelves into rows of varying widths forreceiving packages of predetermined widths, means for supporting theopposite sides of said shelves, a transverse flange member bridging theside walls for supporting the upper end of said shelves, and atransverse flanged member for supporting the forward end of each shelfand bridging the forward edge of the side walls, each of said lastmentioned flanged members having a flange secured to the lower, forwardend of a shelf and another flange providing an elevated abutment at theforward, lower end of its shelf for intercepting the lower package ofeach row of a shelf and retaining the packages in display and dispensingposition.

2. A display and dispensing container for boxes of screws and othermerchandise, comprising a metal frame including side walls with theupper and the forward edge of each side wall being inclined downwardly,a downwardly inclined top wall having depending end flanges secured toand overlapping the upper inclined edges of the side walls and a rearflange secured to and bridging the side walls at the rear of thecontainer, a plurality of shelves mounted in spaced parallel relationand in a forwardly and downwardly inclined position in said framebetween said side walls and withlheir forward edges offset andprojecting to the inclined forward edge of the side walls, each shelfcomprising a continuous sheet having anchoring flanges at its oppositesides for attachment to the side walls and spaced embossments providingintegral ribs for dividing each shelf into separate rows with each rowadapted to receive and display thereon a plurality of boxes, atransversely extending angle member for each shelf connected to andsupporting the rear end of its shelf and a transversely extending anglemember for each shelf having a rearwardly and upwardly projecting flangeconnected to and supporting the front end of each shelf in inclinedposition and having an upstanding flange on which is designated the sizeof the screws or designation of the merchandise in the boxes in each rowof the shelves, said upstanding flange at the front end of each shelfbridging the forward inclined edges of the side walls and providing astop against which the lowermost box in each row abouts with the shelvesinclined in a manner to permit the boxes in each row to slide downwardlyas a lower box is removed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 79,023Steward June 16, 1868 348,164 Judson Aug. 24, 1886 774,291 Thorpe Nov.8, 1904 1,733,406 Goulet Oct. 29, 1929 2,049,279 Vosburgh July 28, 19362,228,775 Morgan Jan. 14, 1941 2.492.912 Womack Dec. 27, 1949

